Sundogs Fall to Scorpions, Series Tied at 1-1
Published on March 30, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Arizona Sundogs News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona Sundogs and New Mexico Scorpions battled in Game 2 of their Southern Conference semifinal best-of-seven series Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Arizona looked to increase their lead in the series to 2-0 after topping the New Mexico club 7-6 in Game 1 on Friday night. New Mexico held Arizona to a 1-for-11 performance on the power play while also tallying two shorthanded goals en route to a series-tying 5-2 win. With both goals for Arizona Saturday night, Cory Urquhart has now notched goals in 12-straight games dating back to the regular season.
The rivalry shared between the two Southwest Division foes was apparent early on Saturday night as both clubs used extracurricular stick work both during the play and after the whistle throughout the opening 20 minutes of play. The Sundogs opened scoring in the contest, quickly taking a 1-0 lead as Cory Urquhart and Alex Leavitt continued to showcase their offensive talents. Leavitt collected a pass from veteran defenseman Dan Laperriere before feeding a centering pass to Urquhart who faked a slap shot in the slot, forcing Mike Minard to commit. Urquhart then side-stepped Minard and lifted a backhand into the net for his third goal of the postseason just 2:05 into the game. New Mexico responded with two goals separated by less than a minute to take a 2-1 lead. While on the power play, defenseman Aaron MacInnis fired a slap shot from inside the blue line that found its way over the shoulder of Marco Emond at the 5:43 mark. Konrad Reeder and Vladimir Hartinger assisted on the man advantage tally, tying the game at one goal apiece. Reeder collected his second goal of the playoffs 58 seconds later with a shorthanded wrap-around effort that snuck between Emond and the far post. MacInnis gathered his second point of the night assisting on the Reeder go-ahead goal. Arizona held a 16-13 advantage in shots through the opening period but was held scoreless on five power play chances.
New Mexico opened a two-goal lead early in the middle frame with its second power play goal of the game. Following consecutive high sticking and cross checking penalties to Chris Bartolone and Dusty Collins, Hartinger took advantage while on the two-man advantage, firing a shot past the blocker of Emond from just inside the top of the near circle 2:20 into the period. Reeder and Christopher Robertson were credited with assists on New Mexico's third goal. The Scorpions increased their lead to 4-1 at 4:41 of the period with their second shorthanded tally of the game. Forward Mitch Stephens intercepted a pass and skated in lifting a backhand shot into the net for his first goal and third point of the playoffs. Following the unassisted goal, Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro replaced Emond with backup goaltender Rob McVicar.
Arizona responded just over two minutes later with its first power play goal of the game to pull back to within two. Urquhart collected a loose puck outside the goal crease and pushed it into the open net for his second of the game from defensive partners Chris Bartolone and Jon Landry. At the 8:20 mark, Robertson regained a three-goal cushion for his club with his first goal and second point of the evening from Craig Macdonald and Reeder.
Neither team cracked the scoreboard in the third period but the two teams did combine for 107 total penalty minutes in the game's final frame. In all, six game misconducts were handed down by referee Mark Lemelin in the final 47 seconds Saturday night.
Marco Emond started in net for Arizona but was replaced by backup goaltender Rob McVicar after allowing four goals on 16 shots in the loss. McVicar blocked 10 of 11 shots in his relief effort. Mike Minard was between the pipes for New Mexico and turned away 32 of 34 shots for the win. Arizona was held to 1-for-11 on the man advantage while New Mexico converted on 2-of-7 power play chances. The regulation loss is the first for Arizona dating back to March 3. The Sundogs had won ten-straight prior.
Arizona now travels to Rio Rancho, New Mexico for Games 3, 4 and 5 beginning on Wednesday, April 2. Game time is set for 6:15pm (Arizona time) and can be heard live on 96.7 FM The Wolf, the Official Broadcast Home of the Arizona Sundogs.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2008
- Brahmas Take Game 1 at CenturyTel - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brahmas win big - beat 'Bugs 3-1 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks Look For 2-0 Series Lead Monday Night - Laredo Bucks
- Scorpions Tie Series With Win - New Mexico Scorpions
- Sundogs Fall to Scorpions, Series Tied at 1-1 - Arizona Sundogs
- Laplante Leads Eagles to 2-0 Series Lead - Colorado Eagles
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